Best players
Liam Coltman: The tough front-rower ran himself into the ground in every game and just kept getting better.
Never lost the ball in contact and lively in defence. Well rewarded with a Highlanders contract.
Fumiaki Tanaka: Kept getting better and did the basics so well. Always there when the ball came back from a ruck, the halfback had a nice boot, and at times played way, way above his weight.
Hayden Parker: A break-out year for Parker as he slotted goals with ease, and kicked well for the line. Not shy in defence either and set his backline away nicely.
Big improvers
Paul Grant: Has been floating around the Otago scene for a few years with no consistency but turned it on this year, making tackles and running the ball up well. Handled the captaincy well.
Tony Ensor: Only made the squad through injury but made every post a winner. Scored some great tries and showed nothing beats express pace.
Hugh Blake: Young flanker obviously has a lot of talent but was kept out by bigger and better players. Had a disappointing first game against Bay of Plenty but his time will come.
Brad Weber: Can run like the wind and has tricky feet but never got a look-in thanks to the fine form of Tanaka.
Matt Faddes: Had a shocking five minutes against Southland in a pre-season match and that cost him big time but still a classy player and will come back all the better.
Best games
v Tasman, won 39-13: Both games against the Makos were exciting but to soak up a strong Tasman start and score 36 unanswered points showed Otago had plenty of resilience.
v North Harbour 54-25: First time Otago cracked a half-century in more than five years. Sure, North Harbour was utterly woeful, but Otago scored some nice tries through some outstanding individual efforts.
Work-ons
1. To beat a premiership team: Otago played four games against sides from the upper echelon and lost the lot.
2. Solidify scrum: The scrum creaked the whole season and hopefully will stand a bit stronger next year.
3. Reset the bar: After a season of relative success, the team needs to win more next season. Lift the expectation. Just get better.
